Steel pipe columns and wood beams were recycled from a 1960s church carport; the old-growth fir sliding screens, fence, and gate originate from a heavy timber warehouse in Pioneer Square; the aluminum-and-glass garage door is reclaimed from a downtown condo conversion; and the studio’s shelving and track lighting is courtesy of workstations from another downtown building.

These simple key rings from Areaware were a favorite personal accessory at Dwell on Design. Available in two shapes—Bend and Drop—The Contour Key Rings recall the look of retro, oversized key rings, with a modern slant. Crafted from 10-gauge brass wire, these key rings close and secure with a simple screw clasp.

Ocotillo was placed in key areas as a great structural focal point.

Of-the-moment designers Stine Gam and Enrico Fratesi have been raking in awards and collaborating with renowned companies like Christopher Farr, Gubi, and Ligne Roset. The duo created the three-legged Key table, which has a wood top ($199).

The Contour Key Rings calls to the look of retro, oversized key rings, with a modern slant. Crafted from 10-gauge brass wire, the rings close and secure with a simple screw clasp. The Contour Key Rings will make an excellent stocking stuffer this year.

Concrete pillars are key in the event of a tidal wave.

Swedish textile designer Simon Key Bertman (one of Dwell's Young Guns picks for 2014) collaborated on a line of woven blankets with Muuto. See the tangerine colorway of the Loom Throw at the Stockholm Design Fair along with several key introductions from the brand, including the new Base Table by Mika Tolvanen.

The simple Pyramid Key Box takes the clutter of keys and hides it in a geometric, wall-mounted cabinet. Inspired by traditional valet boxes, the Pyramid Key Box has six pegs for different sets of keys. When closed, the box becomes a work of sculpture, featuring thirty elegantly crafted birch pyramids. The box is framed in white, which will make the key box stand out against a painted wall.

Organization is key: Blum storage systems in the Henrybuilt drawers keep the whisks from ensnaring the spatulas.

Both a workspace and sauna, this 34-square-foot hut, which belongs to Finnish artist Helle Kvamme, mixes business and pleasure in astoundingly close quarters. The steam-filled studio is heated by a woodstove underneath. Copyright Helle Kvamme.

The best.

A Wolf E-Series steam oven with convection capacity occupies the opposite end of the island. "It's great," Pacek says. "You can steam a whole tray of vegetables at the same time, and it's very quick for reheating. Even though we have a built-in microwave, we often use this for reheating; it's just as quick."

Italian Imported Dual Glass Steam Room & Sauna in Master Bathroom

Kyle compares the selected shades.

Swedish designer Simon Key Bertman’s textile designs are a treat for the eyes, the brain, and the fingertips.

Piano Keys

The Deering House in Casey Key, FL by architect Paul Rudolph, 1958.

Hisham Akira Bharoocha illustrated the waves for the key cards at Le Méridien Hotel.

The 5 Key Keychain in 14K Gold-Plated Brass by Harry Allen is cleverly cast from a stack of five keys. Guaranteed to be a conversation piece. Also comes in sterling silver and colored resin.

The price is right.

A "key" solution for bicycle parking in cities. Inspired in the handles of antique keys, Key bicycle parking by Lagranja for Santa & Cole features simple yet dynamic lines. Available in red and anthracite grey, requires little maintenance thanks to its finish in integral polyurethane foam.

Bertman's 2 Side Gradient wool cushions feature a color on one side and gray wool on the other.

Streetside, foliage and a concrete wall by artist Evan Holloway camouflages Anthony Pearson and Ramona Trent’s low-key Mar Vista home.

Bertman's RGB cotton cushions.

Shoelaces Seasons cushions in cotton.

Brass Key Corkscrew by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, $435 at The Glass House Design Store For the sophisticate with a sense of humor: A cheeky take on the wine key. A handsome objet on its own, this oversize brass beauty by Werkstätte Carl Auböck unwinds to reveal a corkscrew. The "shoulders" of the key's blade can also be used to open a bottlecap.

A Dwell Store exclusive from J. L. Lawson & Co., this key shackle and bottle opener is defined by its anchor shackle inspiration, geometric silhouette, and triangle pin that keeps the key shackle closed. The simple and refined piece is precisely cut within thousandths of an inch, requiring tremendous attention to detail and skill. This bottle opener is a multi-tasker that is created to inspire new traditions and to be passed down from generation to generation.

Education was a key focus of designer Bruce Mau's talk. Photo courtesy Compostmodern.

Steam 1886 directed by Adrian Lazarus and Nicky Felbert, produced by Mercury ProductionsThis short fashion film won the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa competition, which the public votes for via text messaging. Shot on location at Cape Town’s Truth Coffee café, its steampunk aesthetic was designed by Haldane Martin. It’s the first year that a film has been nominated (feature-length Four Corners was also in the running), which seems fitting, given that this was also the inaugural year of the Design Indaba Film Festival. The dozen nominees for Most Beautiful Object in South Africa spanned a wide number of genres, including media and tech, as well as the more expected furniture, dresses, and jewelry.

The home displays several applications of the same materials—metal, glass, and concrete—a key characteristic of most Ellwood homes.

Studio member Eri Shimatsuka (left) and studio manager Petri Juslin (right) compare a first fabric proof to the artist’s original drawing.

A custom-designed console fits the wall perfectly and creates a spot to drop keys and mail, or check appearances before going out the door.

Key to the space-efficient floor plan is a strategically placed set of recessed areas, includingthe sleeping nook and writing desk.

Bright Designlab designed the custom vanity, fabricated by Maple Key. The wallpaper is by Portland studio Makelike, and the pink tap is Fantini.

“Celebrating California indoor/outdoor living is key,” Oni says of her and Didi’s new rental unit. “We splurged on that—it was the best thing we did.”

A key intervention in the space was the addition of a curved wall just off the entrance. "We like doing curved things that are not sharply defined,